Garda dedicates award to abused children

ROSCOMMON CASE:THE CHILDREN who were the victims in the Roscommon child abuse case are now able to live a normal life, according to the lead investigator who brought a prosecution against their parents.

Sgt John Hynes, who is based in Castlerea, Co Roscommon, was given the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors Excellence Award for his work on the case.

Sgt Hynes dedicated the award to the children and said there could have been no trial and conviction without their courage and fortitude.

The children were sexually abused and neglected for years by both of their parents.

The father, who pleaded not guilty at every stage and stood trial, was jailed for 12½ years in 2009; the mother, who pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, received a seven-year sentence.

The children are now aged between 12 and 22 years. The older two are with relatives and the youngest four are at foster homes.

Sgt Hynes said they were now “very happy children” and he paid tribute to their relatives and foster families. “These children have fantastic relatives and fantastic foster families who have given them a new lease of life,” he said.

“From the dealings I have with them since the trial process finished, they are going to school, enjoying school, taking part in sport and mingling with people. They can now live a normal life.”

He said child sex abuse was the “most heinous” of all crimes and there could be no forgiveness of those found guilty of such abuse.

“We all know how innocent children can be. To take advantage of that innocence and ruin their childhood is the worst thing that could happen to them,” he said.

Sgt Hynes said the law on incest should be updated to ensure that women can get the same sentence as men.

Currently, the maximum sentence is 14 years for a man and seven for a woman.